Citrus Plants

Take a stroll through the Fort Collins Nursery greenhouse this time of year and you will be struck by the intoxicatingly sweet aroma of our flowering citrus plants. Citrus are popular because of their delicious edible fruit and fragrant flowers. Although native to more tropical environments, citrus do well in indoor containers and are surprisingly easy to care for. Depending on the variety, citrus can grow 6-25’ tall but can be kept smaller with periodic pruning, making them ideal for houseplants. They prefer full sunlight and moist, well-drained soil. Stop by and check out our selection that includes lemons, limes, kumquats, oranges, and tangerines. Here are several varieties worth considering:

Meyer Lemon

Features: Compact trees flower in late winter and produce many thin skinned, sweet, juicy lemons. This very popular lemon tree is ideal for growing in containers and is great for juices, fruit salads, desserts, preserves, and with fish.

Light: Bright light, can be in full sun outside during summer.

Water: Evenly moist, well-drained soil.

Temperature: Prefers warmer temperatures, but will tolerate as low as 35°F for short periods.

Fertilizer: Use fertilizer specific for citrus.

Repotting: Repot every 1-2 years to replenish nutrients in the soil.

Key Lime

Features: The Key Lime is a small, shrubby tree with many thorns. The tree produces small, juicy, thin-skinned greenish-yellow limes that are sweet and tart at the same time. These compact trees are ideal for growing in containers. Also known as Bartender’s Lime, Key Limes are great for cooking, baking and beverages.

Light: Bright light, full sun outside in summer.

Watering: Evenly moist, well-drained soil.

Temperature: Prefers warmer temperatures, but will tolerate as low as 35”F for short periods.

Fertilizer: Use fertilizer specific for citrus.

Repotting: Repot every 1-2 years to replenish nutrients in the soil.

Ease of Care: Easy.

Cocktail Citrus

Features: Cocktail trees are a unique approach to growing citrus. A Meyer Lemon and a Key Lime growing in the same container! The lemon produces many thin skinned, sweet, juicy lemons. The lime is small and juicy, with a sweet-tart flavor. Cocktail Citrus are great for those short on space.

Light: Bright light, can be in full sun outside during the summer.

Water: Evenly moist, well-drained soil.

Temperature: Prefers warmer temperatures, but will tolerate as low as 35°F for short periods.

Repotting: Repot every one to two years to replenish nutrients in the soil.

Ease of Care: Easy.

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One Response to “Citrus Plants”

Those mandarins look fantastic! You’re right about how it takes a lot of light to make them. Summer is a great time for that. A friend of mine lives in the South and has a few mandarin plants. I’ll have to see if they have any to spare. That picture is making me hungry!

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